Australian onion growers will gain access to new tools designed to detect and manage key leaf diseases under a project funded by Hort Innovation and delivered by Metagen. The initiative will focus on three major pathogens affecting onion crops: Stemphylium vesicarium (Stemphylium leaf blight), Alternaria porri (purple blotch), and Peronospora destructor (downy mildew).
© Hort Innovation
The project will develop rapid, on-farm diagnostic tests intended to help growers identify these diseases more quickly. Researchers will use genome sequencing to track pathogen evolution and monitor the development of fungicide resistance. Laboratory and field trials will assess which fungicides remain effective under current conditions.
Brett Fifield, CEO of Hort Innovation, said onion growers are experiencing increasing pressure from leaf diseases that affect yields and production costs. He said the project aims to give growers access to faster diagnostic support and updated information on fungicide resistance to help guide spray programs.
Led by Dr Ben Evert, the project will build a national dataset on pathogen diversity and resistance profiles. Findings will support integrated crop-management strategies and will be shared through extension resources for growers and diagnostic laboratories. Dr Evert said the combination of molecular testing and resistance screening is intended to help the sector respond more quickly to emerging disease risks and to make the tools practical for on-farm use. He added that the methods and data generated will be published for broader scientific access.
The project (VN24003) is supported through the onion research and development levy and matched contributions from the Australian Government.
© Hort InnovationFor more information:
Shannon O'Mara
Hort Innovations
Tel: +61 (0) 427 142 537
Email: [email protected]
www.horticulture.com.au
